Now chimpanzees hit by Facebook bug
After humans, the bug of social networking online has hit chimpanzees, it appears.
By PTI |
HOUSTON: After humans, the bug of social networking online has hit chimpanzees, it appears.
Albert, a 20-year-old chimp, is the first of his kind to join the popular website 'Facebook' and his friends Jones, Sheena and Britney have followed the suit to provide a 'wild' company to the 40-million-odd human users.
Scientists from the University of Northern Oregon have spent the last two years training Albert and his comrades, who all belong to 'Pan troglodytes species' to acquire language skills necessary for their online social networking.
With the help of specially-designed software that recognises sign language (ASL) and a chimp-proof adapted touch screen, the scientists recently announced that the four apes could communicate using over 1000 symbols, adapted to the most popular features of the online social network.
They can also chat online with their best friends from around the world, write text messages and even upload their favourite profile pictures.
'Alberts gang', as they are called, have become very popular among Facebook's users.
Although sociologists and anthropologists have used social networks as empirical research tools, Facebook will now provide a new platform for biologists to observe the chimpanzees' social skills, claims Chief Researcher Dr John F. Marlowe.
Albert, a 20-year-old chimp, is the first of his kind to join the popular website 'Facebook' and his friends Jones, Sheena and Britney have followed the suit to provide a 'wild' company to the 40-million-odd human users.
Scientists from the University of Northern Oregon have spent the last two years training Albert and his comrades, who all belong to 'Pan troglodytes species' to acquire language skills necessary for their online social networking.
With the help of specially-designed software that recognises sign language (ASL) and a chimp-proof adapted touch screen, the scientists recently announced that the four apes could communicate using over 1000 symbols, adapted to the most popular features of the online social network.
They can also chat online with their best friends from around the world, write text messages and even upload their favourite profile pictures.
'Alberts gang', as they are called, have become very popular among Facebook's users.
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Although sociologists and anthropologists have used social networks as empirical research tools, Facebook will now provide a new platform for biologists to observe the chimpanzees' social skills, claims Chief Researcher Dr John F. Marlowe.
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